Braided rug



July 23, 1963 H. FLITTERMAN- 3,098,281

BRAIDED RUG Filed May 1. 196

INVENTOR. Aimer Fuz-nenn# MMV rates Patent Ofce Patented July 23, 1963 The present invention relates to braiding materials and to articles made therefrom, and more particularly to rugs :and similar coverings for-med from a braid having loops joined together as by sewing.

In the formation of braided rugs and simil-ar covering material, it is customary to form the braid from strips of textile material and to join -loops of the resultant braid together edgewise, as by sewing, in any desired configuration to form an :article of the shape and design desired.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide a new form of textile braiding strip from which the braid for rugs and similar articles may be constructed.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a new con-struction of `a braided rug or similar article.

A further object o-f this invention is to .provide a new form of braiding strip and a covering article fonned therefrom having improved wearing qualities and presenting a pleasing appearance to the eye of the beholder.

Yet Ianother object of this invention is the provision of a braided rug having a softer feel and greater resiliency of the rug surface.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in .the art from the following specification and the appended drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a completed braided rug according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective View :of a preferred form of textile braiding strip according to the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of the -line 3;---3` of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of an 'alternative Iforni of braiding strip `according to the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 5 of FIG- URE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective View -of yet another form of braiding strip according to the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View on the line 7--7 of FIG- URE 6; and

FIGURE `8 is a detailed view showing the rnanner of braiding the strips of FIGURES 2 throu-gh 7, inclusive.

A braided rug according to the present invention is indicated at 11 in FIGURE l as made up lof a braid 12 which runs continuously lfrom a center starting section 13 in concentric loops to a terminal ending `14 to for-m the generally oval -shape of the rug shown in FIGURE 1. Depending upon the length of the center section 13, any desired lconfiguration can be Iformed varying from circular to the elongated oval shown. The adjacent edges of the braid loops are preferably joined together by sewing, as indicated at 15 in FIGURE l.

One preferred `form of braiding strip from which the braid 12 may Ibe formed is indicated at 21 in FIGURES 2 and 3, and is comprised of lan originally wide textile or cloth rstrip having a center portion 22, and edge portions 23 and 24 which are return bent toward each other and are butt engaged as at 25'. The edges 23 and 24 are joined together and to the center portion -22 by a single sewing loop 26 which provides for spacing of the edges -23 and 24 yfrom the center portion 22 as at 27 so kas t-o form the braiding strip 21 into a flattened tube, `as shown in FIG- URES 2 and 3.

An alternative form of -braiding strip is indicated at 51 in FIGURES 4 rand 5, and comprises an originally wide textile strip having la center portion 32 and return-bent edges 33 and 34 which are folded tightly onto .the center portion 32 and connected thereto by individual stitchings 35 and 36.

In the yform. of braiding strip indicated generally at 41 in FIGURES 6 and 7, the liinal stri-p is substantially cylindrical in form, having its edges joined together in butting relation at 42 by suitable stitching y43. In this form of braiding strip the edges of the textile strip are joined only to each other and are not connected to the center portion lof the Strip, so that the resulting configurati-on forms substantially a cylindrical tube, as shown in the figures.

` braid formation.

The manner of forming the braid 12 is indicated in IFIGURE 8, in which a long braiding strip 51 is looped centrally at 52 to form .the pair of braiding strips 53 and 54. A third braiding strip 55 is secured at 56 to the looped portion 52 of the elongated braiding strip 51. The three strips, 53, 54, and 55 are then interleaved in well-known braiding fashion to form the resultant braid 12. The braid 12 is then looped upon itself and the adjacent edges of the loops are sewed together as at 15 to form the desired cong-uration for the rug or other covering material.

As the braiding strips `of FIGURES 2-3 and 6-7 are braided together, it will be understood that the flattened tube of the strip 21 will be further flattened and that the cylindrical tube of the strip 41 will be ilattened in the This imparts a resiliency to the rug surface lover and above that normally provided by the material yof the braiding strip alone, since the tubular form of strip will tend toI expand `from a yfully flattened to an opened position, and will thus give a softer feel and greater resiliency to the rug surface.

With the edges of the braiding strip return-bent and secured either together or to the center portion of the strip, or both, it is seen that either rounded or at surfaces are presented at the wearing surface, rather than sharp-edge portions, and accordingly the braided article presents desirable wear characteristics.

In the weaving of the rug of FIGURE l, it is desired that the braid 12 shall change from one color to another in a gradual and orderly fashion, as will now be described.

The braid at the section 61 is of a solid light color, `and as it loops outwardly it is desired that this change to a solid dark color, as in section 62. At the point 63 a single vone of the braiding strips 53, 54, 55 becomes of the dark color, and from the point 63 to the point 64 the braid is formed from -two light and ione dark colored strips. At the point `64 a second one of the strips 53-55 becomes dark, and from the point 64 to the point 65 the braid is formed from two dark and one light strip. At the point l the third of the strips 53-55 becomes dark, and the braid then continues in the solid dark color. Thus, We have the braid changing from a solid light color in the section 61 to a mixed color in the section between points 63 and 64 formed from two light .and one dark braiding strips; to a section between points 64 and 65 formed of mixed color with two dark an one light braiding strips; and then from point 65 on, a solid dark color. The braid thus changes from a solid light color to a mixed color with the light predominating, then to a mixed color with the dark predominating, and then to solid dark. With this arrangement the colors blend subtly one into the other without an abrupt change-over point.

While certain preferred embodiments 4of the invention have been specifically shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto, as many variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the invention is to be given its broadest interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

I claim:

1. A braiding strip for use with similar strips to form a braid adapted to be looped into a covering article comprising: a strip of textile material having its original edges return bent toward each other and secured together in abutting relation without overlap to present curved edges on the strip at the Wearing surface of the article.

2. A braiding strip for use with similar strips to form a braid adapted to be looped into a covering article comprising: a strip of textile material having its original edges return bent toward each other and secured together and to the strip to present curved edges on the strip at the Wearing surface of the article, said original strip edges being secured together and to the main body of the strip to form substantially a flattened tube.

3. A braiding strip for use with similar strips to form a braid adapted to be looped into a covering article comprising: a strip of textile material having its original edges return bent toward each other and secured together and to the `strip to present curved edges on the strip at the wearing surface of the article, said original strip edges being secured together and to the main body of the strip by single sewing loops.

4. A braiding strip for use with similar strips to form a braid adapted to be looped into a covering article com-` prising: a strip of textile material having its original edges return bent toward each other and secured to present curved edges on the strip at the wearing surface of the article, said original strip edges being secured together in butting relation and to the main body of the strip by single sewing loops and with the return bent portions spaced from the main body of the strip to form substantially ia attened tube.

5. A braiding strip for use with similar strips to form a braid adapted to be looped into a covering article comprising: a strip of textile material having its original edges return bent toward each other and secured to present curved edges on the strip at the wearing surface of the article, said original strip edges being attened and secured to the main body of the strip.

6. A braiding strip for use with similar strips to form a braid adapted to be looped into a covering article comprising: a strip of textile material having its original edges return bent toward each other and secured together in abutting relation without overlap to present curved edges on the strip at the wearing surface of the article, said original strip edges being joined together without attachment to the main body of the strip to form a substantially cylindrical tube.

7. A braided rug comprised of a substantially continuous braid looped upon itself and having the adjacent edges of the loops connected together, said braid being formed of braiding strips comprised of strips of textile material having their original edges return bent toward each other and connected together in abutting relation without overlap to present curved edges on the braiding strips at the wearing surface of the rug.

8. A braided rug comprised of a substantially continuous braid looped upon itself and having the adjacent edges of the loops connected together, said braid being formed of braiding strips comprised of strips of textile material having their original edges return bent toward each other to present curved edges on the braiding strips at the wearing surface of the rug, said original braiding strip edges being secured together and to the main body of the strip to form substantially a flattened tube.

9. A braided rug comprised of a substantially continuous braid looped upon itself and having the adjacent edges of the loops connected together, said braid being formed of braiding strips comprised of strips of textile material having their originaledges return bent toward each other to present curved edges on the braiding strips at the wearing surface of the rug, said original strip edges being flattened and secured to the main body of the strip.

10. A braided rug comprised of a substantially continuous braid looped upon itself and having the adjacent edges of the loops connected together, said braid being formed of braiding strips comprised of strips of textile material having their original edges return bent toward each other to present curved edges on the braiding strips at the wearing surface of the rug, said original strip edges being joined together in abutting relation without overlap and without attachment to the main body of the strip to form a substantially cylindrical tube.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,524,681 Badger et al. Feb. 3, 1925 1,664,497 Waite Apr. 3, 1928 1,870,275 Adams Aug. 9, 1932 1,923,551 Murphy Aug. 22, 1933 2,052,076 Boles Aug. 25, 1936 2,126,254 Gowell Aug. 9, 1938 2,759,865 Kolb Aug. 21, 1956 

2. A BRAIDING STRIP FOR USE WITH SIMILAR STRIPS TO FORM A BRAID ADAPTED TO BE LOOPED INTO A COVERING ARTICLE COMPRISING: A STRIP OF TEXTILE MATERIAL HAVING ITS ORIGINAL EDGES RETURN BENT TOWARD EACH OTHER AND SECURED TOGETHER AND TO THE STRIP TO PRESENT CURVED EDGES ON THE STRIP AT THE WEARING SURFACE OF THE ARTICLE, SAID ORIGINAL STRIP EDGES BEING SECURED TOGETHER AND TO THE MAIN BODY OF THE STRIP TO FORM SUBSTANTIALLY A FLATTENED TUBE. 